Population boom, space crunch at Gopalpur zoo

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 19

The Gopalpur zoo, located about 25 km from Dharamsala on Palampur road, is facing problem of plenty.

Most animals that are rescued from the forests of the entire lower region of the state are kept in the zoo. This has resulted in an increase in the number of animals here and is thus squeezing the space.

As a result, now there are 12 leopards in the zoo whereas it has capacity to handle just six.

The authorities have divided the enclosures to accommodate the ris-ing population of leopards. However, this has squeezed their roaming space.

All leopards rescued from the traps of poachers in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Chamba districts are kept here. The leopards that are rescued are generally not released back in the wild as they are injured and cannot survive on their own or can threaten humans.

The population of wild boars in the zoo is 12 but there is just one enclosure.

The problem being faced by the authorities is that the population of wild boars can explode and it would become difficult for them to control it.

The officials at the zoo, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were trying to control the population of wild boars in the zoo by sterilising them.

The increasing number of sambars and Himalayan black bears is also a problem for the authorities. At present, there are 43 sambars and 10 Himalayan black bears. There is just one enclosure for black bears also. Since sambars are most commonly found in lower areas of Himachal, their numbers are increasing as they are rescued from traps and human habitations by the wildlife authorities.

Hamirpur DFO, wildlife, who is in charge of the Gopalpur zoo, admitted that the zoo was facing a problem of plenty in case of some animals. He said, “We have put the extra animals in the zoo on surplus list of the Central Zoo Authority. In case any zoo in the country now wants these animals, they can take it from us. Besides, we are taking every measure within our resources to keep the animals in zoo in pristine health”.

The DFO also said they were trying to bring a lion to the zoo. There were four lions in the zoo. However, three of them died after completing their natural life span. Now, there is just one lioness in the zoo.